(September 30, 2026) Quantico, Va. – Secretary of War Pete Hegseth traveled to Marine Corps Base Quantico to announce six major strategic initiatives that the Department of War says will shape its direction for years to come. In a notable break from the usual Pentagon briefing, the Secretary spoke directly to active-duty E-6s and O-3s, the staff sergeants, petty officers, captains and lieutenants who will carry out these reforms at the unit level.
For Marines past and present, it was fitting to see the Crossroads of the Marine Corps chosen as the backdrop. Here is a summary of what was announced.
1. Autonomous Warfare Command
The Department is standing up an Autonomous Warfare Command, a 4-star functional combatant command charged with scaling autonomous warfare across the Joint Force, with a target date of October 1, 2027. It builds on the Department’s Drone Dominance program, which has delivered thousands of robotic systems to the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury. The effort, called Project Agincourt, will be led by DRPM UxS under a CEO-COO partnership between Owen West, current Director of the Defense Innovation Unit, and Navy SEAL Senior Chief Max Strasiser, the first enlisted SEAL to graduate from Navy Test Pilot School.
2. America’s Corps of Cadets
A new program aims to expand the pipeline of officers commissioning into the Joint Force. Building on the Corps of Cadets at the nation’s six Senior Military Colleges, the Department is partnering with Louisiana State University, Liberty University, Tuskegee University, Mississippi State University and Hillsdale College to create additional full-time Corps of Cadets programs. Each school will be designated a “Distinguished Military College” and receive “Honor School” status, which gives priority in officer commissioning. Michigan readers will note that Hillsdale College, right here in our state, is among the first partner institutions.
3. FORTRESS America
FORTRESS America (Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability) is described as a national insurance policy for the homeland. Its goals include:
- Independent power generation at every major U.S. installation, so bases stay operational if the civilian grid goes down
- Bringing critical supply chains home, including rare earths, specialty metals, semiconductors and propellants
- Deep strategic reserves of munitions, fuel, medicine and blood
- Hardening installations against cyber intrusion, sabotage and drones
- Protecting satellites, spectrum, and the ability to navigate and communicate
4. Next Great American Base
The Department plans to build a new, world-class power projection installation from the ground up, spanning hundreds of thousands of acres and designed to run entirely off the commercial grid, with autonomous systems and advanced air defenses. Following the President’s executive orders on civic architecture, it will feature classical design. Host state selection will be an open competition, with governors and adjutants general invited to pitch their land and support packages directly to senior leadership.
5. Office of Religious Affairs
A new Office of Religious Affairs will report directly to the Secretary and serve as a senior-level advocate for the Service chaplaincies, which remain the primary providers of religious support. According to the Department, the office will not compel participation or favor any faith, and will work to ensure every service member has voluntary access to religious support and community.
6. Project Meridian
Project Meridian is a 120-day study to identify the capabilities needed for technological superiority on the future battlefield, from underground operations to cislunar space. Facilitated by Department Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael, it will be co-directed by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich, supported by academic, policy and industry experts. The project will conclude with a publicly released unclassified report and a classified annex.
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The full release, along with the memos establishing each initiative, is available from the Department of War: Secretary Hegseth Announces Six Major Initiatives at Quantico Speech.
Source: Community Engagement Directorate, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs.